Swimming holes are a great, natural escape from the norm of swimming in a man-made pool. Who wants to get all that chlorine in your eyes anyway? And just the thought of someone not leaving the pool to pee is enough to get me out of the water. They can be found all over the world and a great addition to your bucket list. Here’s why these swimming holes need to be on your list!
1. Grotta della Poesia
This grotto, also known as the Grotto of Poetry, rests in the Adriatic Sea, 15 miles east of Lecce, Italy. Local legend has it that a famous muse bathed in the limestone pools, hence where the name comes from. This swimming hole is a part of the Mediterranean Sea and the Grotta specifically has a series of underwater tunnels leading to different caves. One of the caves, Poesia Piccola, has an amazing secret: it’s full of many symbols and inscriptions that date between the second millennium B.C. and the era of the Roman Republic.
2. Hamilton Pool
I love this one because it’s in my own backyard! Hamilton Pool is a Texas swimming hole and one of the most popular in the region. There, you’ll find a 50-foot waterfall that comes in from Hamilton Creek. You can also catch people rock climbing, as it is the perfect spot for the activity. We’ve had a lot of rain the area recently; therefore it’s safe to say that the pool will soon be open for business (once the water levels are safe.) (https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/hamilton-pool)
3. Blue Lagoon
This beautiful spot is located in Iceland and looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. To clarify, this lagoon was man made, but it has made my list because it is composed of millions of gallons of geothermal seawater from deep inside the Earth, explaining why the water is so warm. This swimming hole is said to be full of minerals and is considered to have healing powers.
4. The Blue Hole
This luxurious vacation spot is located in Jamaica on the White River. Given its name for its beautiful, blue water, the Blue Hole is located right around a few other stunning water areas. It’s often that tourists will make it a day trip and visit Dunn Rivers Fall after swimming here. It’s most famous in the region for being one of the only untouched swimming holes in the area. The best part about the Blue Hole? You can sit and lounge around in the water with a drink in hand. Yes, please!
5. Fairy Pools
This cluster of a few small swimming holes is located in Scotland. Unfortunately, nothing magical happens and there are no fairies around (unless you’re drinking Absinthe, then it might be possible.) The water is said to be light shades of blue and pink at times, thus, I’m assuming, the name. These waters are very frigid, so be sure to take a few shots of whiskey before jumping in!
Don’t these pictures just make you want to get on a plane and visit these bad boys right this minute?! I know it’s a scorcher here in Texas right now and I could definitely use a trip to one of these swimming holes. Which one would you visit first?
